Understanding and Maintaining Your Tires for Optimal Performance

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“In the beginning there was light...” Wait— that’s not right. Wrong story. In the beginning there was a check engine light. Yes, that’s how this story starts. Bill, a longtime customer of mine, called me one morning about his 2004 GMC Sierra. He was getting ready to head out on a trip, but his truck was running a little rough. We set the appointment, and while I enjoyed a hot cup of coffee, Bill rolled into the shop. We pulled his truck into the diagnostic bay, and my technician scanned the computer for any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). What the technician found led me to a series of questions for Bill. Me: “Bill, we found some trouble codes in the computer. Has the check engine light been for long?” Bill: “Oh, that thing? Yeah, it’s been on for a couple years! But it’s been running great.” Me: “Well, it’s running terribly now.” Bill: “True… it just started acting up these past couple of weeks.” What we uncovered was a laundry list of fault codes that had been obviously ignored. He also admitted he’d been topping off his radiator with coolant from time to time. Here’s what happened: it started with a small radiator leak. As the coolant got too low, the engine overheated, off and on, over and over. That constant heat stress finally caused the head gasket to fail. By the time all was said and done, with machine shop work, new head gaskets, radiator, spark plugs, and an oxygen sensor, the bill (no pun intended) came to $3,000. The moral? Bill now “ sees the light ” and knows the cost of ignoring it. Some dashboard warning lights may be confusing, but they’re there for a reason. If a light comes on or a gauge points to a problem, don’t wait. Even if your car seems to be running fine, it’s always safer (and cheaper) to get it checked out before a small issue snowballs into a major repair. Do you see the light? Drive Safe! Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care

When you see an advertisement for an oil change that includes a 28-point inspection, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? “Wow! Look at that price. They are looking over a lot of stuff on my car” . Or “What are all those points they are looking at? Is it really important”? Or my personal favorite: “Can I save money on my oil change if they don’t look at those items?” You can also ask yourself if there is anything else to look at on your car besides these 28 points. Does that cover the whole car? As a car owner, do you really know what should be looked at on your car and how often? Let me break down three important things to consider before you jump at the next “blah blah blah” point inspection deal. Know What’s Being Inspected If you’re already taking the time to get your car in the shop, make the most of it. Ask the service advisor what those points actually cover and why they matter. A quality multipoint inspection should be more than just flipping your headlights on and off. Some items may sound random, but many are critical to keeping you and your family safe. Prioritize Safety Items A good inspection list should be safety minded. Tires, brakes, steering, and suspension components are at the top of that list. Ignore them, and you could be putting yourself in real danger. Sure, wiper blades and accessories are nice to check, but you don’t need a certified mechanic to tell you when your wipers are streaking. A failing tie rod end, on the other hand, isn’t so obvious, and it’s a whole lot more dangerous. Don’t Fall for the Fine Print I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Today’s ads are filled with fine print, exclusions, and half-truths. Without a trusted repair shop on your side, you’re at a disadvantage. If your oil change doesn’t include a thorough safety inspection every single time, that’s a red flag. The truth is, there’s no magic number. 20, 28, 40, or more, the exact inspection points depend on your vehicle. My team often checks more than 40 items when servicing a car. But the real point isn’t the number. The point is peace of mind and knowing that your car is safe and roadworthy. And that, my friends, is the only point that really matters. Drive Safe! Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care

At some time in life, many of us become parents of teenagers, and there’s one thing they want more than anything else in the world: to drive. But are we ready? For the emotions, the financial burden, and inevitable mechanical abuse that comes with it? Have you ever experienced the worry of watching your teenage daughter drive away for the very first time? Or the horror of sitting in the passenger seat while your son barrels through a red traffic light at 45 mph, with nothing but The Fast and the Furious in his eyes? How about the household budget— bankrupt by the gas card charges, auto insurance policy, and keeping the mechanic and body shop on retainer? Us parents need to be aware of what our teenagers are doing while driving. We can’t just take our teens at their word when we ask “Are you driving safe? Is the car OK?” Chances are, they’ll say yes, even if the evidence says otherwise. A little parental detective work can go a long way. Let me give you a few cases I’ve uncovered over the years: The Bald Tire Mystery While servicing a car, I noticed the right rear tire was completely bald, while the other three were still in great shape. After some “Magnum P.I.”-style sleuthing, I discovered that the owner’s teenage son was the driver of the car. Since the car was rear-wheel-drive, it was clear he had a love for jackrabbit starts and the sweet smell of burning rubber. The Vanishing Sidewalls Another telltale sign: check the edges and sidewalls of your tires. You may at one time have had nice white lettered tires on your SUV before your teenager started driving, but now, those white letters are gone, as well as the outer treads. In my experience, this usually means your young driver has been curb-checking at the fast-food drive-thru and then flying into turns like their favorite NASCAR driver. The Interior Apocalypse Finally, take a peek inside your car. If a foul odor immediately burns your eyes and makes you consider calling 911, you may have uncovered what I call “teenage terrorism.” You might find moo goo gai pan fossilized under the seat, or a two-week-old soda fermenting in the console. If you survive the first breath, congratulations, you’ve just solved the case. The bottom line: make it a habit to see what your teens are doing in the car. They won't always tell you if something's wrong because they know if the car goes into the shop, then they don’t get to drive. If they don’t get to drive, for some that means riding the dreaded school bus! There goes their reputation. Our teens may have their motives, but so do we. We want them safe. We love them, and even if their driving gives us a few more gray hairs, keeping an eye on the little clues can help us all survive the ride! Drive Safe! Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care

Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of construction, repaving, and road repair happening around Aiken. Yea!! I’m quite happy about this because we all love smooth roads. But, of course, with the good, there always is a bit of bad. In this case, the bad is the hassle of maneuvering through rough terrain and waiting, waiting, and waiting to get through the construction zones. One day, it took almost 12 minutes for me to turn left onto E Pine Log from my shop’s driveway. What is it that Charlie Brown says? I think it’s “AARGH”! As if the construction delays weren’t enough, the weather has joined the party. Heavy rains create new potholes in the weakened asphalt, and they can wreak havoc on your car’s tires and suspension. At the shop, I’m seeing a higher-than-normal number of cars in my shop requiring alignments and new tires. Many of the tire replacements are due to damaged sidewalls and “choppy” treads. The tricky part is, a car can drive ‘as straight as an arrow,’ but the steering linkage may be way out of adjustment. That hidden problem can cause tires to wear in no time and, if ignored, may even lead to a dreaded blowout! So here are a few simple checks you can do to catch alignment, tire, or brake issues before they turn into something bigger: Pull Test On a smooth, straight road (Ha-ha, I know, tricky to find these days), momentarily let go of the steering wheel. Does the car pull to the right or left? If the car pulls in one direction, it could be a sign that your car is out of alignment, or that a tire has low air pressure. Vibration Check At a steady speed, rest your hands lightly on the steering wheel. If there is a vibration in the steering wheel, that could be an indication of a wheel balance issue or a possible belt separation in a front tire. Brake Test When braking at higher speeds, do you feel vibration in the steering wheel or throughout the car? That’s a telltale sign of front suspension problems or warped brake rotors. Both issues can transfer excess play into the steering wheel. Keeping your car properly maintained not only keeps you safe but also ensures you’ll be ready to fully enjoy those smooth new roads we’ve all been waiting so patiently for! Drive Safe! Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care

It seems the technology of today’s automobiles is advancing at the speed of light. Much like our cellphones, the car you buy today is outdated before the end of the year when a newer, “better” model rolls out. Sitting in some of the more exotic and complex automobiles can feel like you’re sitting in the cockpit of a jet airplane. There are so many buttons and switches– it’s mind-boggling. What are they all for? Will we ever actually use them? Along with the countless buttons and switches comes a series of what I call hieroglyphic images that light up our dashboards. What do they mean, and how important are they really? Some of these images are actually simple and are plain words that even I can understand. But some others are pretty bizarre. Customers sometimes come to me and say, “Brian, what does this light mean?” And even after decades of working on cars, I’ve had to admit: “I’ve never seen a light like that before!” I mean, who came up with the idea that an exclamation mark inside a U shape means low tire pressure? A circle inside a set of parentheses means low brake pads. And my personal favorite: an exclamation point inside a red triangle, which means… “check your dashboard for other warning lights.” Really? If it were up to me, the lights would be straightforward. Something like: LOW TIRE PRESSURE, LOW BRAKE PADS, or the catch-all: “HEY, &!^#)!@, SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO BREAK. Until automakers adopt my system, though, we’re left with the hieroglyphics. That’s why the most responsible thing we can do as car owners is read our owner’s manual. Painful as it may be, we can educate ourselves on all those crazy lights, hieroglyphic images, and bizarre warning sounds. Happy reading, and keep your eyes on the road! Drive Safe! Brian Bernard – Owner, Automotive Workbench Your Car,… Trusted Care